Monkey see, monkey do

We managed to go on a cruise altogether just before Nana has ended her visit with us and moved on with her travels.

On the ship, Jon shared a room with grandma. Ben and Kait were with Vern and me, and Kait's was the usual co-sleeping because of her nursing-on-demand still and our interrupted sleep. But see that monkey?

Not the one hanging from that top bunk, trying to bunk in with us also! But the towel version that Pirate Ben was holding onto. Our copycat of the bigger monkey, put together by the cabin staff, that added a nice, whimsical touch to our stay! :)

It wasn't always smoothsailing though. The ebb and flow and highs and lows of family life travelled with us onto the high seas. There were the usual chaos and challenges of restraining the children, especially when their monkeying around got out of hand. I'm also not the cruise person that my MIL is. And the choppy waters and our different wavelengths knew how to get to an exhausted me :(. Was up till late nights in a row to pack our luggage, clean house and tie up loose ends. But it was hard to relax when the busy husband brought along his work to do (read: this wife had better get the children out of his hair)!

No wonder then it's the saner moments I always crave for. But I'll have to wait till later to share our other favourite things from this adventure. What I got to be thankful for, that it wasn't all work and no play.

Hoo hoo, ha ha...
Right now trying not to let the three jumping monkeys turn the house or me upside down. I'm into the third laundry load with a fourth one to do next, and need to get organized again. Plus some decisions to make about our summer plans when Vern gets back from his out-of-town work trip.

Hang on for my update!

Dads are beautiful, too

Father's Day celebrates its 100th anniversary!

Did you also know it originated in Spokane?

Wishing all dads -- and dads are beautiful, too -- beautiful days, every day, with your family!

In the pictures: The busy man that Vern is, this was when he stopped and smelled the roses, and other flowers at Manito Park, the "crown jewel" of the parks here, as part of the sightseeing for Nana earlier.

This park isn't quite as large as our favourite Missouri Botanical Garden, but each place has its beauty for us to appreciate it for what it is. As is the case with Spokane, that's not quite the same as St Louis, that's not quite the same as Singapore. Father's Day last year happened to be when we arrived to set up home here. And now, isn't home where the heart is?

Home is where the heart is...
Our three children give their father warm hellos/hugs -- after his long workdays, and whenever he comes home after being away for his out-of-town (often also means out-of-state) work trips.

From Kait, Ben, and Jon, it goes like this: "DAD-DEEE!!!", "Hi, Daddy!", and "Hey, Dad!". That makes me kinda jealous ;p... hey kids, mommy works hard too, taking care of you and our home.

Differences aside, what I especially appreciate is Vern making, finding, and squeezing out time for them, for us as a family, amid his busyness.

Bless my own Pa, too, for how much he loves us his children. No matter how grown up we are now, and never mind I live halfway across the globe, he's there for us.

Dads rock! We love you!

Every man, woman and child should stop,
think and remember all those wonderful things
that their fathers have done to build
the foundations for their own dreams.
- Mark Jeffery

(And what were the boys up to? Playing two-square with their own ball! Anywhere but the flower beds, please)!

Sunshine, Friends, and Laughter

After a busy end of the schoolyear, not just school but another season has whizzed by!


It wasn't too long ago when we went, "Boing! Spring has sprung!"...



Now we're looking forward to more sunshiny days!

Took the children to a "School is Out!" party around our place. Seeing them happy, enjoying themselves, with their friends, and all the laughter, put smiles on my own face, too!


Joy brightens up our days, and is what this mommy grabs onto for the longer ones! 


It's a wilder time, and I'm trying to get organized. Hoping for more of the crazy in a good way moments!

Here's to more sunshine, friends, and laughter in your life, too! 

There's joy also from spreading it to a friend or someone in need, in whatever ways we can to be a friend.

"Friends are the sunshine of life."

- John Hay